Sunday, January 30, 2011

Ok...I can't contain my excitement about our paperwork is officially its way to China! I still can't believe how close we are getting! I'm really hoping that we get matched in the March matching but I know I need to think more in God's terms when it comes to timing and stop being so worried about it!

The boys are so excited about getting to see their little sister! Kaden is so obsessed with wanting to buy things for her and saving his towys for her. I'm sure it will all change when he's no longer the baby! We've been talking about that a lot and I'm trying to prepare him for what's to come. But I don't think he will really understand until she gets here!

So, for now...not much else is going on and I can't wait to let you know about the next steps!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Oh..I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!!!!!!! I found out this afternoon that our dossier will for sure be sent to China on Friday!!!!! This is awesome news! They said it usually takes about two weeks to get a log in date (LID) but because of Chinese New Year it will take aobut 4. That's fine! Because as soon as we get out LID, we can be matched! This means we will be eligible for matching in March!!! They usually match kids on the third Monday so I'm impaitently waiting for the Middle of March to roll around!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

I'm sitting here on a Sunday afternoon waiting on small group to start. Not much has been going on around here except that we had yet another snow day last week! I didn't take any pictures because: 1. the novelty has worn off and 2. I didn't bother going out side! Brady lasted about 20 minutes and Kaden played for about 45. Now the poor little guy has a runny nose and cough. I'm anticipating that the nose will turn into an ear infection by the end of the week. I'm pretty good at knowing these kinds of things with Kaden as my kid.

We have lots of big plans in the works around here. Nothing new on Baby China though. I'm going to call tomorrow and see if our dossier was sent to China. They send them on Fridays so I'm hoping that it's in the mail! Meanwhile, Kaden is dying to go to Disney. We started a Disney fund last week. So, on top of paying for an adoption, we are also saving for Disney. Don't get all excited though...we are saving change not big bills! The big bucks are still going towards bringing Lynleigh home!

We are also trying to figure out what we will do with five people in our house. We are thinking about starting to work on the house and get it ready to put on the market. That is a long way off but for some reason my children keep growing (out of their clothes) and we are going to need some more space when a third human moves in! We will stay in Hernando because we love it here but just need more square footage! That's the long term/two year goal. We'll see how it goes!

Oh, I am also making blankets to take to China when we go. They will be our gift to the orphanage. So far this weekend I've made half of a granny square blanket! It's been so relazing to crochet and not read! And laugh if you must...I learned how to make granny squares on you tube! I'll post a pic when I get it done!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Because we are such procrastinators, we are working on Brady's science project that is due on Tuesday. He's chosen math probability so obviously, this was a project for his daddy and not me! I am the creative one that will help put it all together on the board. Tony had to help with the math part, which included making graphs and all that!

Brady choose "Tricky Dice" as his topic. It was pretty interesting to watch. Basically, he rolled the dice 100 times and his hypothesis was that he thought a sum of 8 would appear the most time. In our case, the sum of 7 appeared the most. I also learned that 10, 11, and 12 appeared the least! Interesting! It was kind of like Bunco but with out the laughs and prizes!!!! Here are a few of the pictures we will be putting on the project board.

I just love this picture! I told you...I'm the creative one. I think it's so cool how his reflection is on the table. Ok...I know I'm lame but I'm still impressed with this one!

Despite being sick this weekend, I'm glad to have had a project to keep us busy. I've been reading so many books that I haven't had any kind of craft project since before Christmas. I'm thinking about working on some blankets that I started a while back. My mom and I decided that we would make blankets for me to take to Lynleigh's orhpanage when we go. I'm not really good at it but I'm thinking about taking a crocheting class or something! Please continue to pray for Baby China and of course I will keep you posted on when we get that LID!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

We were so excited last week that on Sunday afternoon, it started to snow! We knew we would have a snow day because it was crazy out there! When we woke up Monday morning...thisis what we found! We had a good 4-5 inches of snow this time! And it wasn't yucky ice...it was fluffy, pretty snow!Of course the kids couldn't wait to get out in it! Mr. "I think I'm so funny" pulled this right off the bat!Kaden had been waiting since last year to make a snow angle! He was so happy and this was the first thing he did when he walked out. Of course, Brady couldn't be left out!

After playing in the yard and down the street with Kaden's best friend, some of the big kids in the cove decided they wanted to go sledding. Of course, Brady and Kaden wanted in on that action too! This only lasted about 30 minuted before we were all too cold to move! The boys came in and took a hot bath to warm up and then a few hours later went back out for round two! I stayed inside under a blanket! One time in the cold was enough for me! We ended up staying home from school two days. It was a blast and the kids LOVED it! Now, I'm hoping we don't get anymore snow days because we will have to make up the school days at the end of the year!

Oh, I also checked the status of our paperwork and it said it will be delivered on Monday. However, Monday is a holiday so it looks like they will get it at HOLT on Tuesday! Pray for quick processing! I'm ready to see what Lynleigh looks like!

Friday, January 14, 2011

So, we're waiting! That seems to be the common thing about adoption! We finally received out dossier back from the Embassy last week and got it in the mail before the snow started. It should have arrived at our organization today. Tony has the tracking info and he's still at work. I'm going to have him look it up as soon as he gets home! Once our info gets there, they will check it to make sure it is accurate and then it ships to China! I seriously feel like this process has taken forever even though it's not yet been a year! Once it gets to China, they will give us a Log In Date (LID)and when we get that, we can be matched. There is no guarntee on time when it comes to matching. We have asked for special needs that include cleft lip/palate, hearing impaired, and allergies/asthma. I feel in my heart that because we have asked for those things, it won't take long.

Now comes the time to step up our prayer! We will have a big chunk of money come up when we get a match and I know God is going to provide it HE just hasn't revealed how yet! We are praying for many things for Baby China...her family that had to give her up, her care that she is getting right now, the broken heart she will probably have when she is torn away from everything she's ever known and given to complete strangers (us), and quick bonding once we get her!

We are also praying for our friends the Pinnow's. They are currently in China getting their little girl Sophie right now. You can read about their journey right HERE! I will keep you posted on the process and when we get our LID!!!!

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Ok, really? I haven't blogged since November 10th! I've been so crazy busy and I haven't even taken the time to keep you all up to date on what amazing things have been going on around here! First, a couple of pictures. I've recently posted a bunch on my facebook so I will just put my two most favorites from the past few days.

I mean seriously...look at those faces! Can you believe how fast they are growing up? The other day, Brady and I were talking about which college he wanted to go to. He, of course, said the University of Arkansas because that's where his daddy went. And as long as he gets a scholarship...he can go anywhere he wants. I've often thought of teaching him how to take the ACT and seeing what he would score in third grade. Could you imagine? If he did well, we would be in the money for sure! Kaden on the other hand, woke up yesterday morning looking like he'd been in a fight. He swears he got the black eye when he scraped his face on the driveway playing basketball but I know that's not the truth! 1. It had been raining so he hadn't played basketball and 2. it's more like a fingernail scrape rather that concrete! That boy can tell some tall tales! I need to start logging them and publish a book! Speaking of that...I've recently thought I'd love to be a ghost writer for books. I wonder how you get that job!

As for Baby China, well we are still waiting. We sent our dossier to the Chinese Embassy (in D.C) three weeks ago. Apparently there was something wrong with our Arkansas paper work and we had to have it over nighted to be corrected. Now with the stinking holiday, we are just waiting for that paper work to get back to us! Once we get it, we can send it to HOLT and they will send it to China. Then we wait for a Log In Date (LID) and once we get that, we can be matched. Oh, then there's the Chinese New Year at the beginning of February so I'm sure that will delay us some too! I just keep telling myself that God is timing this out just perfectly. Telling myself that and being patient while HE does that is two seperate things all together.

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions but this year I am vowing not to be this weight when we go to China. I'm on day three with no Coke Zero. That in its self is amazing! We will see how it pans out!

About Me

I am a Mommy to two wonderful little boys and a sweet baby girl!. Brady is 9 Kaden is 5 and Lynleigh Ren is 2. I serve in the women's ministry at my church and I just love it! I am a Jesus Freak who loves to tell everyone about my Savior! I am a 9th grade English and Journalism teacher and I just love it! The students have changed me and I'm so happy for that!